SAN Advisor, intended for use mainly as a module for EMC ControlCenter (ECC), is designed to monitor a SAN and help users plan, test, and implement changes in storage devices. Industry analysts, surveys, and the early success of startup Onaro Inc. suggest these features are becoming necessary as SANs grow (see Onaro Eyes Data Centers).

Your SAN doesnt remain static, Webster says. You want to minimize the manual tinkering you have to do to monitor your SAN and make changes.

Here's how EMC takes on change management: SAN Advisor taps into EMCs E-Lab device compatibility database, and uses that to determine whether devices such as disk arrays, HBAs, and switches will work together. It provides a list of all devices and connections on the SAN, monitors them for interoperability issues, helps users plan changes they want to make, and allows them to test the changes before implementing them. The product will become available in early May.